No
team in the NationalChamps.net
Top 25 is bringing
back this many starters.
This doesn't necessarily
equate to more wins
but it certainly
gives Longhorn fans
hope. At the same
time it's unusual
to see so few Longhorn
players on last
season's All-Conference
list. All this equates
to even more pressure
on this coaching
staff to win more.
Anything less than
nine wins and Mack
Brown could be done.
But we have heard
this before in Austin.
Mack Brown admits
he understands why
he is considered
on the hot seat
after three down
seasons. What changes
may take place in
2013 in an effort
to overcome the
winning column shortcomings?
The biggest story
this spring has
been Texas implementing
a new quick tempo
offense. The speed
was noticeable as
the offense began
moving with an average
of nine seconds
between whistle
and snap. Fans got
to see what's in
store in the second
half of the Alamo
Bowl when the Longhorns
picked up the pace
and moved the ball
downfield with their
speedy weapons.
Don't expect a major
overhaul of the
offense, just a
quicker version.

Offensively,
the best way to
describe the Texas
passing game is
inconsistent. David
Ash started most
of the season behind
center with Case
McCoy getting the
nod in the finale.
There is plenty
of upside in these
two providing hope
for 2013 that one
of these quarterbacks
can perform like
a veteran while
minimizing the mistakes
and red zone issues.
Ash gets the nod
for now and there
is much to like
about his abilities.
With a better junior
campaign Texas can
be right in the
middle of the Big
12 title hunt. Mike
Davis is a premier
receiver and Jaxon
Shipley is always
dangerous. They
help provide the
passing fortunes
a better prognosis.
As usual plenty
of options are available
in the backfield.
And as usual if
running with the
ball continues to
be a mediocre effort
given the talent
here and what veterans
are up front blocking,
Texas is in trouble.
The philosophy that
the best teams are
strong up front
has been proven
by the SEC this
decade. Texas has
a really well-built
offensive line full
of mammoth size
and experience.
This factor alone
should make Texas
that much better
in 2013.

The
less said about
the run defense,
the better. And
that might belie
how bad this team
really was at times
a year ago. The
only departure from
this front seven
will be end Alex
Okafor. No reason
exists why this
defensive coaching
staff cannot produce
a better product.
Maybe that is half
the problem and
a reason Mack Brown
is on the hot seat.
Coordinator Manny
Diaz, who presided
over the worst statistical
defense in school
history in 2012,
too, is feeling
the heat. His linebackers
were the weakest
unit while the two
players who are
truly supposed to
be difference makers
on defense (Jeffcoat
and Hicks) have
struggled with injuries.
Look for some mix
between the usual
4-3 alignment and
some experiments
with a 3-4 schematic.
The thought process
on how to play in
this defense may
be a little complex
but there is no
reason why this
group should be
performing this
poorly.

Critics
are calling these
recent Longhorn
teams soft. Coaches
call it a farce
but the numbers,
especially on defense
say otherwise. The
trust factor with
the coaches is certainly
gone when it comes
to instilling a
championship edge.
Leadership amongst
the players is also
one of the biggest
question marks.
When grading talent
levels on paper
Texas is right at
the top with any
other team in the
Big 12. Thus far
however that paper
has proved to be
counterfeit...hence
the reason Texas
won't be the overall
favorite to win
the conference.

QUARTERBACKThe
Longhorn nation already
understands what David Ash
and Case McCoy represent
on the gridiron. Ash is
the sure starter departing
spring ball. He looks the
part and throws a nice pass
with size and strength in
the pocket with the ability
to run. The word out of
spring is that Ash is also
loosening up and showing
some confidence. But ask
and most fans will tell
you they are still in a
wait-and-see mode. Changing
a personality isn't easy
but with Coach Major Applewhite
working with Ash there are
possibilities. Case McCoy
is the backup, but for how
long? Applewhite has stated
that McCoy would undoubtedly
take the field in place
of an injured or ineffective
Ash because he has so much
experience and has won games.
McCoy's career never mirrored
his brother Colt but as
a senior he will maintain
an important role. His ability
to improvise especially
in clutch situations are
not enough to make up for
his lack of arm strength.
All eyes have been on 6'5,
250-pound true freshman
Tyrone Swoopes, who has
been given every opportunity
to wrestle away the backup
spot as an early enrollee.
Odds are he ends up redshirting
but his physical skills
may leave coaches tempted
to use him in special packages.

RUNNING
BACK For
two seasons now the Longhorns
have started the season
with plenty of options
out of the backfield.
For two seasons now the
Longhorns have ended the
season with few options
due to injuries and other
circumstances. In 2012
Brown, Bergeron and promising
freshman Johnathan Gray
were all locked in for
playing time. Gray wound
up the starter in the
Alamo Bowl after the other
two suffered through injury.
Regardless of how the
depth chart works out,
injuries aside all three
are going to see their
share of carries. Bergeron
will likely serve as the
team's short-yardage back.
Gray and Brown are key
leaders on this team with
big-time talent. Not so
very long ago it appeared
that Brown was setting
up to be the backfield
savior for the program.
But now the new kid in
town Gray seems to have
been placed in that same
role. Gray looks like
he is ready to explode.
Don't be surprised if
he becomes a 1,000 yard
rusher. But all this has
been said before with
a wealth of recruiting
talent lining up at this
position through the years.
Yet Mack Brown has never
put the fear in any opponent
when it comes to the ground
game. The talent is here
once again. Will the lackluster
results be the same?

RECEIVER
Mike
Davis is one of the country's
premier deep threats.
The fourth-year starter
took the Longhorn faithful
for a loop back in January
as he told ESPN he would
enter the NFL Draft one
morning. But that evening
he released a statement
saying he would remain
in Austin. After his sophomore
year he briefly contemplated
quitting football for
undisclosed reasons and
last year at times seemed
disgusted at the lack
of passes being thrown
his way. This time around
the senior says he is
ready to lead which is
definite good news for
the backfield. For this
running attack to get
better Davis has to be
on the field stretching
defenses. Jaxon Shipley
is on board again to offer
a great 1-2 punch. He
runs tremendous routes
and catches just about
everything thrown his
way. As last year wore
on Shipley got better
recording 60 or more receiving
yards in his final six
games. Cayleb Jones was
in contention for a starting
role left open by the
departure of Marquise
Goodwin but has been suspended
indefinitely for an off-the-field
assault charge. Stepping
in has been the speedy
Kendall Sanders who didn't
play much last year but
has received solid praise
through out the spring.
With the new hurry-up
offense expecting to produce
80 to 100 snaps a game
Texas will need numbers
at this spot. The door
has been open for Marcus
Johnson and Bryant Jackson
to earn serious playing
time with the first team.
Johnson has good size
and is deceptively fast,
while Jones is a big receiver
who uses his body well.
Also look for cornerback
Duke Thomas to double
as a receiver. It simply
cannot be Davis and Shipley
all season long. Someone
has to step forward and
preferably more than one.

TIGHT
END The
never ending search for
the next great tight end
continues. Coaches just
want to see something,
anything that shows this
position can actually
bring something positive
to this offense. On paper
the situation looks good,
but that case can be made
for many positions across
the board with the recruiting
success Mack Brown has
been blessed with. At
this point do coaches
go with a blocker or pass
catcher here? Recently
it's been tough building
a productive package.
With weapons already available
to catch passes look for
converted defensive lineman
Greg Daniels to be more
of a value for blocking
purposes. M.J. McFarland
played wide out in high
school and in the spring
game displayed a glimpse
of what the fall could
bring as he caught two
passes on the very first
drive. He just needs to
display some consistency.
JUCO transfer Geoff Swaim
has talent too as a blocker
but don't look for him
often in passing situations.
The tight end will continue
to be a work in progress.

OFFENSIVE LINE
All
five primary starters
return that combined for
62 of a possible 65 starts.
Ergo, this group should
be a great place to start
the offensive wrecking
ball rolling. The middle
of this group is extremely
steady. Right guard Mason
Walters enters his last
season with 38 starts
under his belt. Left guard
Trey Hopkins has started
16 games after being a
starter two years ago
at tackle. Center Dom
Espinosa has started every
game of his career here.
The tackle spots are going
to be a little more interesting.
Right tackle Josh Cochran
sat out the spring with
a leg fracture opening
the door for Kennedy Estelle
who is oozing with ability
to be an impact player.
The influence of big 6'8,
310-pound JUCO transfer
Desmond Harrison, who
will arrive this summer,
will really make things
interesting at left tackle.
Mack Brown has already
stated Harrison has a
chance to be something
really special. He will
be in a battle to take
over for Donald Hawkins,
a JUCO transfer last season,
whose results were mixed
in 2012. If Harrison is
as advertised his arrival
could really shake up
this unit in a positive
way.

WR
Jaxon Shipley

TEXAS
2013 DEPTH
CHARTReturning
Starters/Key
Players

OFFENSE

QB

David
Ash-Jr (6-3,
223)

Case
McCoy-Sr (6-2,
200)

FB

Chet
Moss-Jr (6-2,
255)

Alex
De La Torre-So
(6-1, 230)

RB

Johnathan
Gray-So (5-11,
207)

Malcolm Brown-Jr
(6-0, 223)Joe
Bergeron-Jr
(6-1, 240)

WR

Jaxon
Shipley-Jr (6-1,
192)

Bryant
Jackson-Jr (6-2,
199)
Daje Johnson-So
(5-10, 184)

WR

Mike
Davis-Sr (6-2,
193)

Marcus
Johnson-So (6-1,
189)

WR

Kendall
Sanders-So (6-0,
183)

Cayleb
Jones-So (6-3,
200)

TE

Greg
Daniels-Jr (6-5,
258)

M.J.
McFarland-So
(6-6, 245)

OT

Desmond
Harrison-Jr
(6-8, 310)

Donald
Hawkins-Sr (6-5,
310)

OG

Trey
Hopkins-Sr (6-4,
300)

Sedrick
Flowers-So (6-3,
313)

C

Dominic
Espinosa-Jr
(6-4, 300)

Garrett
Porter-Sr (6-6,
315)

OG

Mason
Walters-Sr (6-6,
320)

Curtis
Riser-RFr (6-4,
305)

OT

Josh
Cochran-Jr (6-6,
299)

Kennedy
Estelle-So (6-7,
300)

K

Nick
Rose-So (6-3,
192)

Nick
Jordan-So (6-1,
175)

2013
DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE
LINE

Alex
Okafor, arguably the
team's best player last
fall, will make it seven
Longhorn defensive ends
drafted to the NFL in
the last 10 years.

Cedric
Reed replaces Okafor
and started six games
in 2012 after Jackson
Jeffcoat was lost for
the season against Oklahoma
with a pectoral injury.
Reed could be a budding
star but still has not
proven he can dominate
on a consistent basis.

Jackson
Jeffcoat was still out
for the spring opening
the door for a combination
of young players to
earn playing time.

Bryce
Cottrell will push for
a spot in the rotation
and has drawn praise
from those close to
the program. Cottrell,
Shiro Davis and Caleb
Bluiett are the younger
guys coaches are watching
closely. Bluiett has
moved back to defensive
end from tight end.
None of the three have
separated themselves
from the pack.

End Reggie Wilson is
still dealing with inconsistency
as a senior.

At tackle Malcom Brown
performed well in limited
action as a true freshmen
and is another budding
star.

Between
Brown, Hassan Ridgeway
(moved inside from defensive
end), Jackson, Dorsey
and Whaley the numbers
are heavy for the two
tackle spots, which
is a good depth sign.
Jackson is the team's
top returning tackler
from this group. Getting
one or two of them to
step up and be a consistent
force is another story.
So far this has not
happened.

LINEBACKER

The
linebackers faced a
ton of criticism last
year for their sub par
performances (ranked
88th nationally in run
defense). Even Mack
Brown has alluded to
the struggles of this
unit up the middle.

What
the rotation will exactly
look like this fall
is anyone's guess. A
ton of questions still
exist here and could
be the reason Texas
still has problems getting
over the winning hump.

The return of Jordan
Hicks will be a boost
but likely not enough
to make this an elite
set of linebackers.
Hicks has the physical
and mental qualities
necessary to be a top
flight backer.

Peter
Jinkens was active last
season on a limited
basis. The talk is that
he can be a premier
playmaker after impressing
quite nicely this spring.
Jinkens is exactly what
a Big 12 linebacker
should look like.

Dalton
Santos appears to have
replaced Steve Edmond
at the middle backer
spot. Santos has slimmed
down and took most of
the reps with the first
team this spring.

Demarco
Cobbs and Tevin Jackson
will have to fight to
find continued playing
time. Both have dealt
with the injury bug.
Cobbs is a good fit
athletically but isn't
sure of what the defense
is trying to achieve.
Jackson could be the
odd man out when Hicks
does return fulltime.
He will be more valuable
in Dime packages playing
in space and adding
depth.

This unit performed
poorly enough that last
year's predominant starters
are now apparently playing
back up roles across
the board. Depth is
great but the ability
to be a great linebacking
corps is still in question.

Defensive
Coordinator and linebackers
coach Manny Diaz is
under the gun. His defense
had serious problems
last season with his
continued Fire Zone
blitzing scheme that
isn't working.

DEFENSIVE
BACK

Corners Carrington Byndom
and Quandre Diggs are
known commodities. Byndom
will be the top option
to cover the opponent's
best receiver. Diggs
will slide to free safety
or man the nickel spot
so the corner position
opposite Byndom is still
wide open. Look for
Duke Thomas to be the
fill in here as he tries
to double as a receiver
when Texas has the ball.

Diggs
will look to assume
a more physical role
at safety as Kenny Vaccaro
did so enthusiastically
last season.

The
talent is this secondary
is undeniable, but defensive
backs coach Duane Akina
is going to have to
find a way to fit it
all together.

At this point no job
is safe, especially
at safety. Coaches have
started from scratch
this spring with no
depth chart in sight.

Adrian
Phillips had a disappointing
junior campaign and
his inability to play
physically suggests
safety may not be his
best suite. Josh Turner
was a corner in high
school but will continue
to push for starting
duty at safety.

Mykkele
Thompson is athletically
gifted but has proven
to fall short in the
tackling department.

There
is not a Thorpe Award
finalist in this group.
However there is no
denying the fact recruiting
has been good to this
secondary.

CB
Carrington Byndom

TEXAS
2013 DEPTH
CHARTReturning
Starters/Key
Players

DEFENSE

DE

Cedric
Reed-Jr (6-6,
250)

Reggie
Wilson-Sr (6-3,
259)

NT

Chris
Whaley-Sr (6-3,
292)

Hassan
Ridgeway-RFr
(6-4, 300)
Ashton Dorsey-Sr
(6-2, 295)

DT

Desmond
Jackson-Jr (6-1,
300)

Malcom
Brown-So (6-4,
315)

DE

Jackson
Jeffcoat-Sr
(6-5, 245)

Bryce
Cottrell-RFr
(6-3, 230)

SLB

Peter
Jinkens-So (6-1,
213)

Demarco
Cobbs-Sr (6-2,
218) Tevin
Jackson-Jr (6-2,
233)

MLB

Dalton
Santos-So (6-3,
250)

Steve
Edmond-Jr (6-3,
255)

WLB

Jordan
Hicks-Jr (6-2,
235)

Kendall
Thompson-Jr
(6-3, 239)

CB

Duke
Thomas-So (5-11,
175)

Sheroid
Evans-Jr (6-0,
185)

CB

Carrington
Byndom-Sr (6-0,
180)

Leroy
Scott-Jr (5-10,
193)

SS

Adrian
Phillips-Sr
(5-11, 201)

Josh
Turner-Jr (6-0,
177)

FS

Quandre
Diggs-Jr (5-10,
200) (NB)

Mykkele
Thompson-Jr
(6-2, 183)

P

Anthony
Fera-Sr (6-2,
220)

William
Russ-Jr (6-4,
185)

2013
SPECIAL TEAMS

Nick
Rose is the field goal kicker
if the games commenced today,
sitting just ahead of Nick
Jordan by a narrow margin.
There has not been a long
ball kicker worthy of consistently
making 40-plus yard field
goals since Justin Tucker
departed. Rose handled the
kickoff duties in 82 of the
85 attempts last season so
hopes are that he has a better
leg for long distance.

Expectations
were high for Anthony Fera
when he transferred from Penn
State last summer, but after
an injury-riddled junior season
where he was only 2-for-4
on field goal attempts and
missed two extra points, his
role as a kicker has ended.

Anthony
Fera is getting tryout time
as a punter as the search
for replacing Alex King continues.
Fera averaged 42 yards per
punt at Penn State.

Multi-talented
Duke Thomas had two kick returns
for 65 yards in the spring
game. Thomas has seen time
at both cornerback and receiver.
He will need to work on ball
security but there appears
to be no question he can be
dangerous with the ball in
this hands. Odds are that
Quandre Diggs will continue
to handle the punt return
duties.